Infantry Squad

Description

On the day of the German attack on the USSR, the Red Army numbered 4.8
million men on the field.

Given the military situation, enlistment was forced. The
first general mobilization began in June and July of 1941, and the draft was then held
annually for persons reaching the
age of 18.

The greatest losses during World War II
were suffered by the infantry. On the
eve of the war, the Red Army was reorganizing
and rearming, and was unready for the enemy – both in
terms of equipment and personnel. At the same time,
the Soviet Union had not signed the Geneva Convention on prisoners of war
– and it was believed that they would
neither accept surrender nor take any prisoners.